Wounded military members serve as honorary starters

Day 2 of Farmers Insurance Open at Torrey Pines- War injured Marine Sgt. Thomas Linville watches Roberto Castro tee off on hole 1 of the South Course after he introduced him.

Charlie Neuman

Day 2 of Farmers Insurance Open at Torrey Pines- War injured Marine Sgt. Thomas Linville watches Roberto Castro tee off on hole 1 of the South Course after he introduced him.

Day 2 of Farmers Insurance Open at Torrey Pines- War injured Marine Sgt. Thomas Linville watches Roberto Castro tee off on hole 1 of the South Course after he introduced him. (Charlie Neuman)

Marines Corps Sgt. Thomas Linville sat in a wheelchair next to the Torrey Pines South Course’s No. 1 tee. Doctors are still trying to save his right foot, injured after stepping on an improvised explosive device in the Middle East.

Linville, Marsh and three other wounded military members – the Marine Corps’ Kenneth Mitchell and Aleksandr Andryushin, plus the Navy’s Ruben Cervantez – served as honorary starters Friday at Torrey Pines, announcing the golfers’ names as they stepped to the tee.

“It was an honor,” said Linville. “Ninety-eight percent of the golfers thanked us for our service.”

“Phil (Mickelson) came right up, thanked me and shook my hand,” said Marsh. “It was amazing.”

Tony Perez, the tournament’s honorary starter for more than 20 years, came up with the idea of having wounded military members serve as starters. Perez, the father of Torrey Pines High product and PGA Tour pro Pat Perez, served in Vietnam during his Air Force career.

Stars & Stripes on 14

The flag atop the South Course’s 14th pin is a replica of the U.S. flag. During the tournament, the flag is tended by military personnel.

“The American flag is such a wonderful symbol,” said Navy Lt. Commander Doug Lito, who has flown missions over Iraq and manned the pin Thursday. “It’s wonderful that the tournament has such an appreciation for the military.”

Fly-by

Best airplane banner advertisement, also with a military touch: “A Chip Away Visit USS Midway.”

Short, not so sweet

Vijay Singh, not known as the most media-friendly member of the tour, closed his round by holing out a wedge from 80 yards for an eagle on the South’s No. 18.

When a TV cameraman asked for a comment, Singh said, “I hit a wedge and it went in. What more do you want?”

Cheap humor

Lost and found is located between the South 18th green and No. 1 tee. The most common attempt at humor directed to the volunteers: “I lost my golf swing. Anybody turn it in?”

Pro shop blues

Steve Genshock remembers back in the economic boons times of 2006-07 when a typical purchase at the Torrey Pines pro shop during the tournament was $200. One day a couple came in, bought a designer U.S. Open golf bag, enough shirts and hats to clothe a modest gallery and plopped down about $1,600.

“They bought a little bit of everything,” said Genshock, a golf shop assistant.

Times are different now.

“A lot of people just want a hat clip or a towel,” said Genshock.

Today’s average purchase? “Forty dollars or less,” said Genshock.

Orange you special

As he approached the South 18th green, Rickie Fowler was greeted by a bevy of fans waving orange towels.

The towels were courtesy of Fowler’s clothing sponsor, Puma. Fowler, 23, favors the Halloween color in part because he attended Oklahoma State.

“It was almost looked like a game at Stillwater down on the sidelines,” said Fowler, eight strokes off the lead at 6-under par. “It’s a little different than what you get at a golf tournament. That’s kind of what I bring, some different stuff on the course, standing out a little.”

Fashion detail

Fowler was dressed in white slacks and a white golf shirt. The hat and belt were orange, the shoes orange and white. Also orange: the pen in his back pocket, his necklace and the accenting color on his white cell phone.